Bully Tashun Griffiths sent his ex-partner a series of abusive texts in which he threatened to 'bang her' and shave her hair off.

The 25-year-old turned on his victim after their relationship deteriorated and, over a two-week period in June last year, he sent her a series of threatening texts which led to her leaving her flat and moving in with her parents.

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In a victim statement the complainant said she was forced to leave her address as a result of the messages.

Griffiths, of Triner Place, Norton, pleaded guilty to putting a person in fear of violence by harassment and escape. He denied wounding with intent, unlawful wounding and assault by beating and those charges were dropped by the prosecution.

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Anis Ali, mitigating, said the defendant has been in custody since June and urged the court to consider an alternative to an immediate jail sentence.

He said the harassment went on for two weeks.

Mr Ali added: "It is inappropriate conduct which he recognises."

He said the defendant ran away from the officer due to sheer panic.

Mr Ali added: "He has made stringent efforts to change his lifestyle. He is developing in maturity and attitude. He has no intention to reconcile with the complainant."

As part of the suspended sentence, the defendant must complete a Building Better Relationships programme, a rehabilitation activity requirement for 25 days and 120 hours unpaid work. And he was made the subject of a three-month electronically-monitored curfew from 9pm to 7am.

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He was also made the subject of an indefinite restraining order which prevents him having contact with his ex-partner or her parents or going to their addresses.

Recorder Rebecca Herbert told Griffiths: "I have to sentence you for harassment which encompass you sending threatening and abusive texts to your ex-partner over a two week period in June last year. They are disgusting. They are bullying, controlling, threatening, they are appalling. I have no doubt they were extremely unpleasant to receive.

"She was forced to move from her address and move into her parents' address because of your behaviour towards her.

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"This sort of behaviour within an intimate relationship is regarded extremely seriously by the courts, not least because in many cases it progresses and escalates into something very much worse than threats.

"You cannot treat people you are in a relationship with with that sort of contempt and threats of violence."